GOOD MOTORING
Road aid
H. Kishie Singh

LIKE all accidents, it was not a pleasant sight. A scooterist had been knocked down by a speeding car. He fell off the scooter and tumbled a couple of times. Wisely, he was wearing a helmet. He lay on the ground motionless and dazed.

As he lay, a number of people rushed to his rescue. One of them, grabbed the man’s hand and yanked him to his feet. A very wrong and bad move.

Research has shown that a two-wheeler rider who takes a toss is likely to have injuries in his head, shoulders, neck, chest and back. In addition, some limbs could be fractured, broken or dislocated.

Yanking a man to his feet could aggravate the injuries. Never pull a man to his feet by his hand. If you have to bring an accident victim to his feet, support the person under the armpit and lift him — do not pull him. You could do more harm than good.

On arriving at an accident site, first assess the situation. Don’t touch the victim; don’t attempt to straighten his arms or legs. They may be broken or fractured. Talk to the person and comfort him. Soft words of encouragement are a great help. Ask him where the pain is, what hurts. Can he wiggle his toes and fingers? It is also possible the person is unconscious.

Your first priority should be to save the victim, to make sure he is comfortable. Everyone has a cell-phone these days, call the police, first-aid post or a Trauma Care Facility. If you are a Good Samaritan, these phone numbers should be fed into your cell phone. Time is always of essence in crisis. It could save a life.

The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry says that a head injury could cause problems and affect driving ability months after the accident.

A motorist who has suffered a head injury may be putting himself and all other road users at risk. This could be due to psychological, mental and emotional problems resulting from the accident.

In the past Good Samaritans were hesitant to do their duty because of fear of being involved in a police case. No more.

In December, the Chandigarh Police was issued directions by the Administration that the person or persons who bring an accident victim to the hospital should not be forced to reveal their identity. No questions will be asked. This is a relief because earlier a person who removed an accident victim to the hospital had to report to the police post at the hospital.

Treatment should not be delayed for jurisdictional formalities. Help must be provided to the patient immediately. The directives to the doctors are also clear. Immediate treatment for the injured has to be provided. No waiting for the police to arrive, no waiting for legal and procedural formalities while the patient is bleeding.

This is indeed good news for Good Samaritans. If you have a cell phone, the Chandigarh Police contact number is 0172-100.

Happy motoring.